Detroit went into the Shark Tank (HP Pavilion) on Thursday and wanted to topple the highest remaining seed in these playoffs. With the stats all on the Wings side who could argue as Detroit was 3-0-1 through the season against the Sharks, and being 2-1 in playoff series against them and out scoring them 64-36 over those 3 series.

Mike Babcock had said survive the first 10 minutes of the game against the Sharks and you are good, well they almost did it… Joe Pavelski or “Little Joe” started the scoring at from Boyle and Demers on the power play, then less then a minute later Heatley would score his first goal of the playoffs followed by a goal by Setoguchi, all 3 goals would come within 89 seconds. Dan Cleary would score just over a minute later to make it 3-1 and that would be it for the first as far as scoring, San Jose would take 2 minor penalties within the last 9 minutes but the Wings could not convert.

The second period was quiet with scoring Franzen would only score but 8 penalties were called against both teams in total so the Wings would be within one by the end of the second period of play.

Joe Pavelski would score again 50 seconds into the 3rd once again on the power play just a little bit later at 2:57 Rafalski would score from Datsyuk and Franzen that would remain the final 4-3 so as I said this would be a close series expect the same in the following games. Once again the Wings need to STAY OUT OF THE BOX as 2 goals were scored on the power play both by Pavelski. Jimmy Howard can also not have another showing as he did giving up 3 goals in 89 seconds, it is not a playoff goalie winning formula. Overall both goalies did well but Howard must be better. Game 2 will be in San Jose on Sunday the wings can still bounce back and make a series of this as long as they fix the issues that still plague them.